Every year, there are teams which excel on the back of the mastermind strategies of their head coach.
There are also teams who plummet below where they should be because of poor game-plan and selling of that plan to the players.
So which coaches have excelled in 2016?
5. Brendan Bolton
Bolton was appointed coach of Carlton on the back of them winning the wooden spoon, and has had his team playing exciting footy, which included a four-game win streak early in the season.
Bolton has had the Blues playing at a faster pace, with slick ball movement, despite the lack of depth which his squad has. Time will tell whether he can continue on from his promising start as coach.
4. John Longmire
Longmire has had the Swans as premiership contenders in each year at the helm, and this year is no different. Yes, he has been blessed with stars such as Luke Parker, Lance Franklin, Dan Hannebery and Josh Kennedy, but he has got the most out of lesser talents such as Callum Sinclair, Dean Towers, Jake Lloyd and Harry Cunningham.
The Swans are never comprehensively beaten, with the only knock on them being their inability to win close games in 2016. They are definitely poised for a run at the flag.
3. Alastair Clarkson
‘Clarko’ has accomplished all a coach could dream of. Four premierships, and a run of finals campaigns since 2008. Coming into 2016, Hawthorn was expected to have a large drop-off, but through the dedication of their coach and on-field leadership, Hawthorn see themselves clearly on top of the ladder, and once again premiership favourites.
Maybe he would be first on this list if we hadn’t seen him do this each year, and maybe we take his brilliance as a mastermind head coach for granted.
2. Don Pyke
Pyke has come from West Coast into a club still mourning the tragic death of Phil Walsh, and has seen them rise to premiership contention.
After losing Pat Dangerfield in the off-season, many experts questioned whether Adelaide would make the finals, and with a comfortable draw for the remainder of the season, Adelaide will likely finish top two.
Pyke has created a fantastic culture at the Crows, starting with improvements in their defensive game, matching their already potent offensive game. Something special could be brewing at Adelaide.
1. Luke Beveridge
Beveridge has continued on from his terrific debut season in 2015, in which he saw the Dogs finish sixth on the ladder. 2016 has been even more impressive however, due to the Bulldogs ability to withstand injuries to multiple key players.
They have had several important players who have all missed or are going to miss significant time. Despite this, Beveridge has led his team to top four contention, and wins over contenders such as Adelaide, Sydney and West Coast.
me too
Guest
bulldogs have just treaded waterthis year - no improvement over last year. meanwhile the hawks, despite until a couple of weeks ago, with a worse injury list, and an aging list, and a threapeat hangover, find themselves two games clear. Clarko clearly - once again, is the coach of the year. If you're talking improvement then Richardson.
Spudweiser
Guest
What do you mean by 'disgust at the bloke'? You say it like he is some kind of criminal? Sounds like jealousy to me.
Jack
Guest
Well if it`s this year only Justin.. Clarko is #1.. HAWKS on top of the ladder and two games clear..
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
That about sums it up....he tolerates mediocrity and plays blokes out of position. He is also tactically challenged and very rarely makes a positional move during a game. I reckon Don Pyke was the mastermind behind the WCE resurgence last year. We have been missing a wingman all year because Jetta hasn't stepped up, and what has Simpson done about it - nothing! Why? Because we don't have another wingman on the list. So he should have stuck with Jetta and left him in the side on the wing until he found some form and learnt the running patterns. I mean what better time and place to learn the running patterns than on game day - not down in the twos where the no hopers run around like school kids chasing a ball.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Pro
I think Simpson deserves a lot of credit considering what he was able to do with the Eagles last year!
Paul D
Roar Guru
I must admit, I haven't watched much of the Eagles this year but most people's complaints about him seem to be about either tolerating mediocrity or playing blokes out of position.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I thought Bucks but I actually don't think he's that bad, haha. He seems to know what he's talking about, and that list has had a lot of issues.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Maybe Pyke was the real brains behind the WCE game plan and performance last year and not Simpson.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Throw in Membrey and Weller as well for me. Their list is growing and I reckon they will steamroll the competition next year when they get Carlisle back.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Pro
Camerons up there for sure!
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
You can throw Simpson into that list as well.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Lyon will never be a good coach in my opinion whilst he keeps on selecting Zac Dawson. The guy is useless and if a coach can't see that, then he is not a coach in my book. I would swing Mayne to full back because he too is useless up forward but at least he doesn't run away from the contest like Dawson does and his defensive pressure is probably amongst the best in the league.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Pro
Beveridge's Dogs were already missing a quarter of their best 22, and the traumatic loss of Wallis and Redpath, as well as Morris, pushed them off the edge. To be as close as they were against a firing St. Kilda under those circumstances further solidifies Luke Beveridge as the best coach of 2016 in my opinion!
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Good post AR
jonty smith
Roar Guru
add buckley to that list.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Right now – as in 2016 - Lyon is up there with the worst coaches in the game. He was thoroughly ambushed by this year, his gameplan has fallen to bits and he knows it. That being said, I am backing him to have the smarts and nous to reinvent himself, and if he does manage to get Freo back into contention he is a genius, but right now he is well short of where he needs to be as a head coach. Freo’s playing group need to believe in him to turn this around, and I’m not sure yet that they do. This off-season is going to be tremendously important for that club.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Pro
True. I see St Kilda's list as much better than Carlton's though. The likes of Bruce, Riewoldt, Steven, Armitage, etc as well as the talent they have through the midfield.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Pro
Couldn't agree more Dougie! Beveridge deserves a tonne of credit for the job he has done!
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
'My 5 Cents Worth', you say the Swans were banned from trading for two years and cite this as evidence of the hurdles Longmire has overcome, yet conveniently overlook that in those same two years the Swans drafted in two of the best young midfield talents in the country (via the Academy), that teams finishing lower on the ladder couldn't access. So you haven't exactly been disadvantaged - the opposite is true. No other top 8 side has been able to draft in two young, potential 250+ game, gun midfielders, due to being subject to different rules. That's a heck of an advantage to be given, which will stand your club in good stead for the next decade.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I agree with gameofmarks - I think Bolton has done well this year, but I reckon Richardson has done better. Both have similarly poor lists, relative to other sides. Both performed poorly in 2015 and both have performed slightly above expectations in 2016. Carlton had four wins last year and now have six. The Saints had six wins last year and now have nine, sitting in 9th spot. Both clubs have turned in plenty of poor performances this year, as well as good ones.